Apparatus and method for protecting a jewerly clasp

ABSTRACT

A device for protecting a jewelry clasp generally made part of an article of jewelry, wherein the device comprises a cylindrical body having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough for passage of the clasp generally comprised of a ring member, a latching mechanism and a loop. The cylindrical body is substantially fitted over and about the clasp to prevent unintentional twisting of the jewelry ends within and about the clasp and to prevent entanglement of the clasp with the wearer&#39;s hair. The cylindrical body is generally made from a pliable, translucent material to retain the overall aesthetic qualities and appearance of the article of jewelry as it is positioned over and about the clasp.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method forprotecting a jewelry clasp generally made part of an article of jewelry.More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved devicefor protecting the jewelry clasp to prevent unwanted entanglement withthe wearer's hair, inhibit inadvertent release of the ends of thedecorative chain or strand from the jewelry clasp during use thereof,and minimize the potential of having the article of jewelry rotate aboutthe wearer's neck or wrist.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is generally understood that many forms of decorative jewelryinclude means to securely attach the ends thereof during placement ofsuch about the wearer's neck or wrist. It is also well known that themeans of attaching the ends of the piece of jewelry come in a variety ofshapes and forms. Most articles of jewelry are equipped with a claspingmechanism generally comprised of an open-ended, tubular ring memberhaving a sliding gate fitted therein to serve as means to open a portionof the ring member for subsequent engagement with a loop that isgenerally attached to the other end of the decorative chain or strand.While in other instances, the clasp may take on the form of alongitudinal, tubular sleeve or receptacle that is geometricallydesigned to accept and lock in place the other end of the decorativechain. However, in principle, most articles of jewelry will have someform of attachment means that may inadvertently disengage during usethereof or be prone to becoming entangled with the wearer's hair.

[0006] Although the relevant body of the art discloses devices for usewith an article of jewelry, most are directed to adding decorativefeatures to and concealing the clasp from observers or provide in and ofitself the means to attach the ends of the decorative chain or strand.For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,940 shows a dress cap thatsubstantially fits over the clasping device to add or enhance theaesthetic features of an article of jewelry. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No.5,722,260 discloses a clam-like enclosure that includes: receiving hooksto engage the ends of the chain. In most instances, particularly withthe foregoing, the jewelry ends may require retrofitting to accommodatesuch decorative devices or may be unattractive due to their bulkyappearance.

[0007] Accordingly, there remains a need for a device which isinexpensive to manufacture and affordable to the average consumer,adequately protects the clasp from coming into contact with the wearer'shair to prevent entanglement therewith, adequately secures the articleof jewelry to the wearer's neckline or wrist and prevents rotationthereabout, and retains the aesthetic qualities and decorative featuresof chains and bracelets having clasping means to engage the ends of thechain or strand together.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In order to overcome the numerous drawbacks apparent in the priorart, an improved device for protecting and securing the clasp generallymade part of an article of jewelry has been devised.

[0009] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a lowcost non-complicated device which may be reliably and securely attachedto the clasp so that it may be readily and easily usable.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide such adevice which reliably secures the clasp in place during use thereof.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide such adevice which retains the aesthetic qualities and decorative features ofthe article of jewelry.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide such adevice which prevents or inhibits inadvertent release of the chain fromthe clasp.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide such adevice which inhibits entanglement of the clasp with the wearer's hair.

[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide such adevice which minimizes the potential of having the article of jewelryrotate about the wearer's neck.

[0015] It is another object of the present invention to provide such adevice which does not sacrifice comfort to the wearer during usethereof.

[0016] It is another object of the present invention to provide such adevice which can be adapted for use on a variety of fashionable articlesof jewelry without undue modification thereto.

[0017] It is another object of the present invention to provide such adevice which is easily mounted on and detached from the jewelry's clasp.

[0018] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide sucha device which accomplishes the foregoing and other objects andadvantages and which is economical, durable, and fully effective inperforming its intended functions.

[0019] In accordance with the present invention, a device for fittingand adapting to articles of jewelry having first and second endsinterconnected by a continuous chain or strand, wherein the first end isfixedly connected with a ring member that substantially engages a loopthat is fixedly connected to the second end of the chain. The devicecomprises a cylindrical body having a longitudinal bore extendingtherethrough for passage of the clasp generally comprised of the ringmember and loop. The length of the cylindrical body is preferablyequivalent to the width of the clasp used to interconnect the decorativechain ends, while the diameter thereof is slightly less than thediameter of the largest component comprising the clasp. In operation,the device is first stretched and fitted over the second end and ispositioned until it is fully located over and beyond the loop, leavingexposed a portion thereof for engagement with the latching mechanismcomprising the ring member. A handle comprising a part of the latchingmechanism and extending outwardly therefrom and the ring member isslidably retracted along the periphery of the ring member to open aportion of the ring member for engagement with that portion of the loopleft exposed. The latching mechanism is then selectively closed byreleasing the handle, with the cylindrical body being slidablyrepositioned longitudinally over the ring member and loop untiladequately covered thereby.

[0020] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent in the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiments thereof when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference numerals depict the sameparts in the various views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now bedescribed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

[0022]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention illustrating the positioning thereof relative to theends of the jewelry chain before being fitted thereon;

[0023]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention illustrating the final, desired positioning thereofover the jewelry's clasp; and

[0024]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention illustrating the positioning thereof over one of theends of the jewelry chain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] While this invention is susceptible of being embodied in manydifferent forms, the preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detailhereinafter with the understanding that the present disclosure is to beconsidered to exemplify the principles of the present invention and isnot intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. Thepresent invention has particular utility as a device for protectingarticles of jewelry having a clasp for attaching the ends of adecorative chain or strand and will be described as such although thepresent invention may be used equally well for protecting other aspectsof articles of jewelry having a variety of shapes and configurations.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown generally at 10 an article ofjewelry having first 12 and second 14 ends. The clasp generally includesa ring member 16 fixedly attached to the first end, wherein the ringmember comprises a spring loaded latching mechanism 18 adaptably fittedwithin a bore 20 that extends through the ring member. The latchingmechanism selectively serves to open and close a portion of the ringmember for engagement with a loop 22 generally fixedly attached to thesecond end 14 of the chain. Opening of the latching mechanism isaccomplished by pulling back on a handle 24 that is fixedly connected tothe latching mechanism 18 and protrudes radially outward therefrom andthe ring member 16.

[0027] The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises acylindrical body 26 having a longitudinal bore 28 extending therethroughfor passage of the ends of the chain 12, 14 and the ring member 16 andloop 22 comprising the clasp. The length of the cylindrical body isgenerally sized to partially extend beyond the area defined by the claspas it is finally positioned thereover, as depicted in FIG. 2. In thepreferred embodiment, the cylindrical body 26 generally comprises alength equivalent to the length of most jewelry clasps of approximately¾-1″. The cylindrical body can be constructed from a variety ofmaterials, but is preferably made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or asimilar material having the capacity of being stretched and fitted overthe clasp without permanent deformation. Further, constructing thecylindrical body from PVC substantially inhibits rotational movement ofthe article of jewelry about the wearer's neck due to the slightcohesiveness of PVC as it is applied to a person's skin. It is preferredthat the longitudinal bore includes a diameter of ⅛ of an inch less thanthe diameter of the ring member so as to fit tightly thereabout toinhibit unwanted rotational motion of the clasp about the chain ends andprevent breakage thereat. In fact, field testing of the presentinvention revealed that clasp diameters smaller than the longitudinalbore inadequately secured the clasp in place and moved about the claspand chain ends, thereby failing to achieve the desired objectives.

[0028] In operation, the wearer initially opens the clasp by pullingback on the handle 24 for radial movement of the spring loaded latchingmechanism 18 about the ring member 16. This action causes a portion ofthe ring member to open for release of the loop from the ring member.The cylindrical body 26 is then fitted and positioned over the loop 22until a portion 30 thereof is left exposed, as depicted in FIG. 3. Insome instances, the decorative features of the article of jewelry mayinhibit longitudinal travel of the cylindrical body about the loop. Inwhich case, a cylindrical body of shorter length will be required inorder to have a portion of the loop be left exposed for adequateengagement of the latching member 18 thereto. The ring member, with thelatching member in a retracted position, is positioned near and alignedwith the exposed portion of the loop to permit full engagement of thelatching mechanism with the loop as the handle 24 is released by thewearer. The cylindrical body 26 is then stretched and repositionedlongitudinally over the ring member 16 and loop 22 until an equalportion thereof exists on each side of the components comprising theclasp, as shown in FIG. 2. In some instances, because of the tendency ofthe clasp and cylindrical body to stick or adhere to one another duringpositioning thereof, the wearer may be required to rotate or twist thecylindrical body about the longitudinal axis in order to achieve thedesired positioning of the cylindrical body 26 about the clasp. However,once the present invention is in this desired position, the clasp isfully protected and prevented from entangling with the wearer's hair,adequately secures the clasp to mitigate inadvertent disengagement ofthe chain ends from the components comprising the clasp, and inhibitsrotational motion or travel of the article of jewelry about the wearer'sneckline.

[0029] To disengage the present invention from the article of jewelry,the wearer simply reverses the above process. With a firm grip on thering member 16 attached to the first end 12, the cylindrical body 26 islongitudinally pulled over and beyond the second chain end 14 to aposition that exposes a portion 30 of the loop 22, as seen in FIG. 3.The handle 24 is then pulled back to release the latching member 18 fromthe loop. To simplify use of the present invention during the nextapplication of the article of jewelry on the wearer, the cylindricalbody 26 can be left attached to the second chain end 14 during storagethereof.

[0030] It is obvious that the device hereinbefore described can be usedwith various sizes of clasps by simply exchanging the size of thecylindrical body 26.

[0031] It can be seen from the foregoing that there is provided inaccordance with this invention a simple and easily operated device,which is particularly suitable for use on articles of jewelry havingends that are temporarily joined by the clasp. The device is inexpensiveto manufacture and can be sold at a nominal price. Furthermore, thedevice is readily adaptable for use with a variety of articles ofjewelry without having to modify or add structural features to the endsof the decorative chain and clasp.

[0032] It is obvious that the device may be fabricated from a variety ofmaterials having pliable, flexible characteristics. It is mostdesirable, and therefore preferred, to use materials having translucentqualities to retain the overall aesthetic features and appearance ofthose component generally comprising the article of jewelry.

[0033] While there has been shown and described a particular embodimentof the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatvarious changes and alterations can be made therein without departingfrom the invention and, therefore, it is aimed in the appended claims tocover all such changes and alterations as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for protecting a jewelry clasp havingattached thereto first and second ends of a chain, wherein the claspincludes a ring member fixedly attached to the first end, the ringmember having a bore extending therethrough for passage a spring loadedlatching mechanism having attached thereto a handle to selectively openthe ring member to engage a loop fixedly attached to the second chainend, said device comprising in combination: a cylindrical body having alength that approximates the length of the clasp generally including thering member and loop; and a longitudinal bore extending through saidcylindrical body for passage of components comprising the clasp,including the loop generally fastened to the second end of the chain andthe combined ring member and latching mechanism generally connected tothe first end of the chain.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid cylindrical body is at least ¾ of inch in length.
 3. A device asdefined in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal bore has a diameter atleast ⅛ of an inch less than the diameter of the ring member so as toadequately secure the chain ends to the clasp and to preventunintentional twisting of the clasp about the chain ends.
 4. A device asdefined in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical body is fabricated from amaterial having translucent qualities so as to retain the overalldecorative features and aesthetics qualities of an article of jewelry.5. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical body isfabricated from a flexible, pliable material capable of withstandingpermanent deformation.
 6. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein theflexible, pliable material is polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
 7. A method ofprotecting a jewelry clasp having attached thereto first and second endsof a chain, wherein the clasp includes a ring member fixedly attached tothe first end, the ring member having a bore extending therethrough forpassage a spring loaded latching mechanism having attached thereto ahandle to selectively open the ring member to engage a loop fixedlyattached to the second chain end, said method comprising the steps of:disengaging the ends of the chain from the clasp by slidably moving thehandle along the outer periphery of the ring member to retract thelatching mechanism to open a portion of the ring member; inserting ontothe loop of the second chain end a cylindrical body; selectively openingthe latching mechanism by slidably moving the handle along the outerperiphery of the ring member; locating the ring member in vicinity ofthe loop for engagement of the latching mechanism with the loop;selectively releasing the handle to close the latching mechanism tosecure the loop with the ring member; and sliding said cylindrical bodylongitudinally over the ring member and loop until adequately coveredthereby.
 8. The method of protecting a jewelry clasp as defined in claim7, wherein said cylindrical body includes a longitudinal bore having adiameter at least 1/8 of an inch less than the diameter of the ringmember so as to adequately secure the chain ends to the clasp and toprevent unintentional twisting and rotation of the clasp about thelongitudinal axis thereof and the chain ends.
 9. A method of protectinga jewelry clasp as defined in claim 7, wherein said cylindrical body isat least ¾ of inch in length.
 10. A method of protecting a jewelry claspas defined in claim 7, wherein said cylindrical body has a lengthsubstantially equivalent to the width of the clasp generally includingthe ring member and loop.
 11. A method of protecting a jewelry clasp asdefined in claim 7, wherein said cylindrical body is fabricated from aflexible, pliable material having the capacity to withstand permanentdeformation.
 12. A method of protecting a jewelry clasp as defined inclaim 11, wherein the flexible, pliable material is polyvinyl chloride(PVC).
 13. A method of protecting a jewelry clasp as defined in claim 7,wherein said cylindrical body includes a smooth exterior surface toprovide comfort to the wearer as the same is positioned over and aboutthe clasp at the neckline.
 14. A method of protecting a jewelry clasp asdefined in claim 7, wherein said cylindrical body is fabricated from amaterial having translucent qualities so as to retain the overallaesthetics characteristics and decorative features of an article ofjewelry.
 15. A method of protecting a jewelry clasp as defined in claim7, further comprising the step of rotating said cylindrical body aboutthe longitudinal axis thereof to ease the positioning of the cylindricalbody over components generally comprising the clasp, including the ringmember and the loop.
 16. A method of protecting a jewelry clasp asdefined in claim 7, further comprising the step of moving saidcylindrical body longitudinally over the second chain end until aportion of the loop is left exposed for subsequent engagement with thering member.
 17. A method of protecting a jewelry clasp having attachedthereto first and second ends of a chain, wherein the clasp includes aring member fixedly attached to the first end, the ring member having abore extending therethrough for passage a spring loaded latchingmechanism having attached thereto a handle to selectively open the ringmember to engage a loop fixedly attached to the second chain end, saidmethod comprising the steps of: disengaging the ends of the chain fromthe clasp by slidably moving the handle along the outer periphery of thering member to retract the latching mechanism to open a portion of thering member; fitting onto the loop of the second chain end a cylindricalbody, said cylindrical body being fabricated from material havingtranslucent qualities so as to retain the overall aestheticscharacteristics of an article of jewelry; moving said cylindrical bodylongitudinally over the second chain end until a portion of the loop isleft exposed; selectively opening the latching mechanism by sidablymoving the handle along the outer periphery of the ring member; locatingthe ring member in vicinity of the loop for engagement of the latchingmechanism with that portion of the loop left exposed; selectivelyreleasing the handle to close the latching mechanism to secure the loopwith the ring member; and twisting said cylindrical body about thelongitudinal axis thereof to ease the positioning of the cylindricalbody over components comprising the clasp, including the ring member andthe loop; positioning said cylindrical body over the ring member andloop until both are adequately covered thereby.
 18. A method ofprotecting a jewelry clasp as defined in claim 17, wherein saidcylindrical body has a length substantially equivalent to the width ofthe clasp generally comprised of the ring member and the loop.
 19. Amethod of protecting a jewelry clasp as defined in claim 17, whereinsaid cylindrical body is fabricated from a flexible, pliable materialcapable of withstanding permanent deformation.
 20. The method ofprotecting a jewelry clasp as defined in claim 17, wherein saidcylindrical body includes a longitudinal bore having a diameter at least⅛ of an inch less than the diameter of the ring member so as toadequately secure the chain ends to the clasp and to preventunintentional twisting of the clasp about the chain ends.